Core i5-13600K vs EPYC 73F3

CPU

GPU

Core i5-13600K

14 Cores20 Thrd125 WWMax: 5.1 GHz2022

Popular choices:

•••••••••

EPYC 73F3

16 Cores32 Thrd240 WWMax: 4 GHz2021

Popular choices:

••••••i5-13600K•••

Performance Spectrum - CPU

Core i5-13600K

14 / 20

37,655

0.0%

46,103

+22.4%

Ryzen 7 5800

Ryzen 9 PRO 8945HS

Ryzen 7 7700X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5945WX

Ryzen 9 9955HX3D

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5975WX

Ryzen Threadripper 9960X

Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX

About PassMark

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i5-13600K

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,192 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Delivers 774.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 240W, a 115W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 73F3 needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (24 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 46,103).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 73F3, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

EPYC 73F3

2021

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 256 MB vs 24 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($3,521 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌92% higher power demand at 240W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i5-13600K

2022

EPYC 73F3

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $3,192 less on MSRP ($329 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Delivers 774.1% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 114.5 vs 13.1 PassMark/$ ($329 MSRP vs $3,521 MSRP).
✅Draws 125W instead of 240W, a 115W reduction.
✅Newer platform on LGA1700 with DDR5 support instead of SP3 and DDR4.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with UHD Graphics 770, while EPYC 73F3 needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

✅Massive L3 cache advantage with 256 MB vs 24 MB, which is a real win in CPU-limited gaming.
✅Better for workstations and heavier parallel workloads: 16 cores / 32 threads, plus 128 PCIe lanes vs 20.
✅540% more PCIe lanes (128 vs 20) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.

Trade-offs

❌No 3D V-Cache or similar L3 advantage, which matters in CPU-limited gaming (24 MB vs 256 MB).
❌Lower PassMark (37,655 vs 46,103).
❌Less compelling for workstation-style loads than EPYC 73F3, which brings 16 cores / 32 threads and 128 PCIe lanes.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 13.1 vs 114.5 PassMark/$ ($3,521 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
❌92% higher power demand at 240W vs 125W.
❌Older platform position on SP3 with DDR4, while Core i5-13600K moves to LGA1700 and DDR5.
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i5-13600K can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is EPYC 73F3 better than Core i5-13600K?

Not in a simple one-size-fits-all way. EPYC 73F3 makes more sense for workstation-style multi-core throughput, while Core i5-13600K is the better mainstream desktop choice for gaming, platform cost, and day-to-day practicality.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, EPYC 73F3 is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 1.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests. It also has a big cache advantage at 256 MB vs 24 MB.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, EPYC 73F3 is the better fit. You are getting 22.4% better PassMark, backed by 16 cores and 32 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 966.7% larger total L3 cache (256 MB vs 24 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

EPYC 73F3 is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i5-13600K makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. EPYC 73F3 is 970.2% more expensive on MSRP at $3,521 MSRP versus $329 MSRP, and it gives you a 1.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i5-13600K is also 774.1% better value on MSRP (114.5 vs 13.1 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i5-13600K is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with LGA1700 and DDR5 instead of SP3. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i5-13600K Benchmark Check

EPYC 73F3 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
1080p
low	281 FPS	200 FPS
medium	264 FPS	159 FPS
high	220 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	188 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	235 FPS	166 FPS
medium	198 FPS	128 FPS
high	158 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	138 FPS	78 FPS
4K
low	159 FPS	74 FPS
medium	133 FPS	61 FPS
high	102 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	39 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 73F3

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
1080p
low	632 FPS	510 FPS
medium	533 FPS	446 FPS
high	450 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	416 FPS	290 FPS
1440p
low	540 FPS	418 FPS
medium	474 FPS	375 FPS
high	403 FPS	309 FPS
ultra	351 FPS	244 FPS
4K
low	316 FPS	257 FPS
medium	282 FPS	235 FPS
high	269 FPS	206 FPS
ultra	238 FPS	171 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 73F3

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
1080p
low	663 FPS	979 FPS
medium	543 FPS	819 FPS
high	477 FPS	760 FPS
ultra	414 FPS	678 FPS
1440p
low	600 FPS	675 FPS
medium	499 FPS	564 FPS
high	434 FPS	515 FPS
ultra	376 FPS	453 FPS
4K
low	441 FPS	482 FPS
medium	381 FPS	382 FPS
high	344 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	295 FPS	274 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 73F3

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
1080p
low	941 FPS	1146 FPS
medium	941 FPS	1015 FPS
high	923 FPS	873 FPS
ultra	831 FPS	758 FPS
1440p
low	941 FPS	842 FPS
medium	850 FPS	733 FPS
high	738 FPS	620 FPS
ultra	651 FPS	539 FPS
4K
low	651 FPS	608 FPS
medium	588 FPS	542 FPS
high	529 FPS	471 FPS
ultra	437 FPS	407 FPS

Open Core i5-13600K Open EPYC 73F3

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i5-13600K and EPYC 73F3

Core i5-13600K

The Core i5-13600K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 27 September 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 5.1 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB. L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 37,655 points. Launch price was $319.

EPYC 73F3

The EPYC 73F3 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 15 March 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Milan (2021−2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 32 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4 GHz. L3 cache: 256 MB (total). L2 cache: 512 kB (per core). Built on 7 nm+ process technology. Socket: SP3. Thermal design power (TDP): 240 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 46,103 points. Launch price was $3,521.

⚡

Processing Power

The Core i5-13600K packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the EPYC 73F3 offers 16 cores / 32 threads — the EPYC 73F3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5.1 GHz on the Core i5-13600K versus 4 GHz on the EPYC 73F3 — a 24.2% clock advantage for the Core i5-13600K (base: 3.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i5-13600K uses the Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the EPYC 73F3 uses Milan (2021−2023) (7 nm+). In PassMark, the Core i5-13600K scores 37,655 against the EPYC 73F3's 46,103 — a 20.2% lead for the EPYC 73F3. L3 cache: 24 MB on the Core i5-13600K vs 256 MB (total) on the EPYC 73F3.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	16 / 32+14%
Boost Clock	5.1 GHz+27%	4 GHz
Base Clock	3.5 GHz	3.5 GHz
L3 Cache	24 MB	256 MB (total)+967%
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)+300%	512 kB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm+
Architecture	Raptor Lake, Raptor Cove, Gracemont (2022)	Milan (2021−2023)
PassMark	37,655	46,103+22%

🧠

Memory & Platform

The Core i5-13600K uses the LGA1700 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the EPYC 73F3 uses SP3 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-5600 on the Core i5-13600K versus 3200 on the EPYC 73F3 — the EPYC 73F3 supports 199.4% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The EPYC 73F3 supports up to 4096 of RAM compared to 192 GB — 182.1% more capacity for professional workloads. Memory channels: 2 (Core i5-13600K) vs 8 (EPYC 73F3). PCIe lanes: 20 (Core i5-13600K) vs 128 (EPYC 73F3) — the EPYC 73F3 offers 108 more lanes for additional GPUs or NVMe drives. Chipset compatibility: Intel 600 series,Intel 700 series (Core i5-13600K) and SP3,C621A (EPYC 73F3).

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
Socket	LGA1700	SP3
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0+25%	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5600	3200+63900%
Max RAM Capacity	192 GB+4915100%	4096
RAM Channels	2	8+300%
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	128+540%

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i5-13600K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Only the EPYC 73F3 supports AVX-512 instructions — important for machine learning and scientific applications. Both support VT-x, VT-d virtualization. The Core i5-13600K includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 770), while the EPYC 73F3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i5-13600K targets Desktop. Direct competitor: EPYC 73F3 rivals Xeon Platinum 8362.

Feature	Core i5-13600K	EPYC 73F3
Integrated GPU	Yes	No
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics 770	None
Unlocked	Yes	No
AVX-512	No	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Desktop	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i5-13600K launched at $329 MSRP, while the EPYC 73F3 debuted at $3521. On MSRP ($329 vs $3521), the Core i5-13600K is $3192 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i5-13600K delivers 114.5 pts/$ vs 13.1 pts/$ for the EPYC 73F3 — making the Core i5-13600K the 158.9% better value option.